Rope ladder



pril 1 4, 1964 a. N. ANAGNOSTOU 3,128,343

ROPE LADDER Filed July 23, 1962 6 Sheets-$heet 1 INVENTOR. GEO/M5 AK ANAGA/QSTOU A ril 14, 1964 G. N. ANAGNOSTOU ROPE LADDER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1962 INVENTOR. GEORGE N ANAa/vosrou wa /p}, M W

April 14, 1964 G. N. ANAGNOSTOU 3,128,843

ROPE LADDER Filed July 23, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORQ 6502a: AK Ame/v0: Tau

April 14, 1964 a. N. ANAGNOSTOU 3,123,843

' ROPE LADDER Filed July 23, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 620m: A. ANA awosrou April 14, 1964 G. N. ANAGNOSTOU ROPE LADDER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 .Filed July 25, 1962 INVENTOR. GoRa /l ANAGNOSTOU p i 14, 1964 G. N. ANAGNOSTOU 3,128,843

ROPE LADDER Filed. July 25, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. G0R6E N ANAaNosrou United States Patent M 3,128,843 ROPE LADDER George N. Anagnostou, 203 Missouri St., San Francisco, Calif. Filed Early 23, 1962, Ser. No. 211,565 15 Claims. ((31. 182-198) This invention relates to rope ladders, and more particularly to an emergency ladder, including ladders which may be used aboard ship.

Although many types of rope ladders have been previously devised, it is believed that the following described invention incorporates new and useful articles of manufacture for producing rope ladders of unique design and construction. In particular, the types of rope structures herein contemplated provide rung supports including a rope housing formed of elastic material that will prevent a chafing of the ropes at the points where the rungs are connected to the ropes. The elastic nature of the rope housing as provided by latex material not only protects the ropes against chafing but is essential to the rapid assembly of a rope ladder formed exclusively of materials which cannot produce sparking when and if struck against metallic bulwarks.

One principal object of this invention is to provide a novel means for effectively and securely attaching the rungs of a ladder in fixed positions upon braided ropes.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel articles of manufacture for attaching the rungs to a pair of spaced parallel ropes and including only those means which may be formed of elastic and non-sparking materials, such as latex.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for securing the rungs of a ladder to a pair of spaced parallel ropes including rope housings formed of molded elastic material having ribbed exterior gripping surfaces.

Another object of this invention is to provide an article of manufacture for use in a rope ladder assembly comprising a rope housing formed of a resilient material having an upper inverted Y juncture, a lower Y juncture, and arcuate sleeves interconnecting the respective divergent arms of said upper and lower junctures, said housing defining an inner opening for receiving a rung plate, and a rung mounting plate matable within said inner opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of manufacture as described immediately above and further wherein said arcuate sleeves are formed with at least one radial fin extending inwardly of said inner opening, and said rung plates being formed with peripheral grooves for receiving said radial fins in matable relationship.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an article of manufacture for use in a rope ladder assembly comprising a rope housing formed of resilient material having upper and lower collared ends integrally formed on either side of an intermediate sleeve portion, said sleeve portion defining a barrel-shaped cavity and having a central transverse opening therethrough, and a complementary filler plug member adapted to be received through said transverse opening into said barrel-shaped cavity, being made of resilient material and having a generally ellipsoidal shape, said plug member having a central transverse opening therethrough alignable with a transverse opening through said sleeve portion.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel combinations of a rope ladder including braided ropes, rung bars, and means for connecting the rung bars to the braided ropes.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, particularly in view of the following detailed description.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and 3,128,843 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 in which like parts are identified by like reference numerals throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a rope ladder portion constructed in accordance with the teaching of this invention and employing one preferred form of housing for mounting rungs to ropes;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the rope ladder portion shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail section of the rung mounting employed in the rope ladder embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and taken on line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on lines 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a garter spring used with the rung mounting constructions disclosed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken on lines 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of rope housing and rung mounting, similar to that shown in FIG. 3 but of an integrally molded sleeve construction;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the rope housing and rung mounting shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section on lines 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of a rope ladder portion utilizing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the rope ladder portion shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged section taken on lines 12-42 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged section taken on lines 1313 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged section taken on lines 1414 of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an end of a rung used with the mounting construction of FIGS. 1014, including an elliptical filler member mounted thereon.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention in a rope ladder combination comprising a first pair of braided ropes 1t and a second pair of identical ropes 11. The pairs of ropes I0 and 11 are interconnected by a plurality of rung bars 12 by rope housings and rung supports 13.

Each pair of ropes extend in parallel adjacency and are periodically entwined about each other at a point 14 as shown in FIG. 3. It will be evident that the rope entwinings serve as a cradle or seat for supporting a lower Y juncture 15 that forms a portion of a housing 13.

Housing 13 further comprises an upper inverted Y juncture 16 and a pair of arcuate sleeves 17 and i8; and, importantly, the entire housing is formed of an elastic or resilient material such as rubber or latex which will not chafe, erode or otherwise injure the rope during usage. Furthermore, the use of latex material contributes a feature of safety because it cannot produce sparking as may occur with metallic rope housings.

The arcuate sleeves l7 and 18, together with Y junctures 15 and 1d, define an elongate opening 19 which may be stretched for receiving the rim of a rung mounting plate 20. The size of this plate may be large enough for supporting double rungs as shown or, if preferred, a single rung may be utilized. It is preferable that the rung plate 20 be made of wood or other material which is rigid but will not cause sparking.

The rung mounting structure shown employs a fin-andgroove arrangement for securing plate 20 within the opening 19 of housing 13. For this purpose sleeves 17 and 18 are symmetrically formed with a pair of fins 21 which are matable with grooves 22 of plate 20, best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Referring to these figures, it is also desirable to use pins 23 for locking the fins 21 within the grooves 22. Pins 23 may be inserted into alignable openings through the fins and plate it? or they may be driven 3 into place after the rung plate is properly mounted within the opening of housing 13.

Plate 26 may be especially formed with a peripheral groove for receiving the convex surfaces of sleeve portions 17 and 18 and Y junctures and 16. Thus, the housing 13 fits around plate 2%? much as a tire is mounted to the rim of a wheel hub. Inasmuch as the housing 13 is to be made of elastic or resilient material it may be stretched to some degree to receive plate 20, but the overall assembly should be relatively tight-fitting. If the plate 20 is properly sized and complementary to the housing 13, the use of locking pins 23 and even the use of tin-andgroove connections may be eliminated.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the Y junctures 14 and i5, and sleeve portions 17 and 18, are provided with a plurality of garter springs formed integrally with the housing 13. Garter springs 24 are disposed within the collared ends of the Y junctures to insure a tight gripping of the pair of ropes extending therefrom, and garter springs 25 are located in the divergent arms of each Y juncture and the ends of the sleeve portions for a tight engagement of the single rope of each pair 10 or 11. All garter springs are preferably molded within the elastic material of which the rope housing is formed in order to maintain its original shape.

Although garter springs of various kinds may be utilized, a preferred type is shown in FIG. 5, consisting of a continuous coil of spring wire having its ends joined together and being of a toroidal shape.

The embodiment of FIGS. 7-9 is substantially the same as that of FIGS. 1-6 and like parts are similarly identified. The major distinction, however, resides in the use of an integral rope housing construction 13a. Thus, rather than form the rope housing in several parts, it is also possible to make the Y junctures and sleeve portions as an integral assembly.

It is contemplated that reinforcing wires 26 may be advantageously employed in molding the fin portions of housing 1311, thereby imparting additional strength to prevent rupturing of the elastic material by the retention forces of locking pins 23. The same construction, of course, may be used in connection with fins 21 of sleeves 17 and 18.

It will be noted that the sleeve portions 17 and 18 of rope housing 13 (as well as comparable portions of housing 13a) are molded with exposed, ribbed or sculptured surfaces. This type of irregular surface provides a relatively non-slip gripping of the ladder and invites a gripping of the housing rather than a gripping of the ropes 10 or 11, which are adversely affected by constant abrading and chemical acids of the body.

FIGS. 10-15 illustrate a second embodiment as contemplated within the broader precepts of this invention. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 in particular, there is shown a rope ladder combination comprising a pair of parallel and spaced braided ropes 3t) and 31 interconnected by a plurality of rung bars 32. The juncture of intersection between each rope and the rung bars 32 is protected by a rope housing 33 which is formed of resilient or elastic material.

Similar to certain prior art rope ladders, the ends of rung bars 32 are disposed between the braided strands of the ropes. But unlike the earlier structures, the junctures between the rungs and the ropes are protected against abrasion by the housing 33. Moreover, the housings 33 contain filler plug members 34 of generally elliptical shape and made of resilient or elastic material. Filler members 34 are formed with a transverse opening 35 and having relatively thin side walls 36, allowing said members to be placed around a neck portion 37 formed at the ends of rungs 32. Opening 35 is normally of a size slightly less than the diameter of neck portion 37, but may be enlarged by stretching the resilient material to enable its placement in the arrangement shown in FIG. 15.

It will be evident that rope housing 33 is formed with a barrel-shaped cavity 38 within which the parted braids of the rope and the neck portion 37 with filler member 34 is contained. Housing 33 is generally comprised of upper and lower collared ends 39 and 40 through which the ends of the rope extend, and a central sleeve portion 4-1 having transverse openings 4-2 for receiving the end of a rung bar. Each of the collared ends of housing 33 (as well as the wall surrounding openings 4-2) are fitted with garter springs 43, 44, and 4-5, as shown, and each of the garter springs is integrally molded with the housing.

Garter springs 43 and 44 tend to draw the elastic collared ends 3 and 40 into tight engagement with the ropes. Springs 45 are disposed in a molded lip of the housing which defines the opening 4-2, and they are matably located for being received in the locking grooves 45 formed in the end of the rung bars 32 and on opposite sides of neck portion 37.

As with the rope housings 13 and 130, housing 33 is preferably molded with a ribbed or sculptured surface to enhance gripping thereof.

The embodiment of FIGS. 10-15 is preferably assembled by first placing the filier member 34- over the neck portion 37 of the rung bar 32. Then, with a braided rope, such as 30, projected through the collared ends 39 and 4-9, and by the further use of a fid, the braids of the rope are separated and the end of the rung bar, together with filler member 34, are forced into cavity 38 through opening 42. The spring force of garter springs 45 when placed in complementary relationship to grooves 46 insure a proper locking action and alignment of the assembly.

it is to be understood that the form of the invention here. 'ith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example thereof, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of certain parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the attached claims, and each of such changes is contemplated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rope ladder assembly, the combination comprising: a rope housing formed of resilient material having an upper inverted Y juncture, a lower Y juncture, and arcuate sleeves interconnecting the respective divergent arms of said upper and lower junctures, said housing defining an inner opening for receiving a rung plate, and a rung plate matable within said inner opening.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the upper end of said upper inverted Y juncture and the lower end of said lower Y juncture are each provided with a garter sprmg.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing is made of latex material and said garter springs are disposed within said junctures, said garter springs being integrally molded within said latex material.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of the divergent leads of said housing junctures is provided with a garter spring.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said arcuate sleeves are formed with at least one radial fin extending inwardly of said inner opening, and said rung plate being formed with peripheral grooves for receiving said radial fins in matable relationship.

6. The combination of claim 5 and further including ipin members insertable through said rung plate and said ms.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said arcuate sleeves including said fins are made of latex material, and further including a reinforcing wire integrally molded within the edge portion of said fins.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said arcuate sleeves are formed with ribbed exterior gripping surfaces.

9. In a rope ladder assembly, the combination comprising: a rope housing formed of resilient material having upper and lower collared ends integrally formed on either side of an intermediate sleeve portion, said sleeve portion defining a barrel-shaped cavity and having a central trans verse opening therethrough, and a complementary filler plug member adapted to be received through said transverse opening into said barrel-shaped cavity, being made of resilient material, and having a generally ellipsoidal shape, said plug member having a central transverse opening therethrough alignable with the transverse opening through said sleeve portion.

10. The combination of claim 9 and further including a garter spring disposed within each of said upper and lower collared ends, said garter springs being integrally molded within said resilient material.

11. The combination of claim 9 and further including garter springs disposed Within said sleeve portion and around said transverse openings, said garter springs being integrally molded within said resilient material.

12. In a rope ladder combination, first and second pairs of braided ropes, the ropes of each pair extending in parallel and adjacent relationship and in spaced parallel relationship to the other pair of ropes, each of said pairs of ropes being intermittently entwined at equal lengths along the ropes, and means interconnecting said first and second pairs of ropes approximate to each entwining of a pair of ropes with a rung, said means including a rope housing formed of resilient material having a lower Y juncture supported upon said entwining, the ropes of a pair of ropes extending through the depending leg of said Y juncture and each rope of said pair of ropes extending upward through the respective divergent arms of said Y juncture, said rung being supported between the upper extending arms of said Y juncture.

13. The combination of claim 12 and further wherein said rope housing includes an upper inverted Y juncture and spaced arcuate sleeves interconnecting the respective divergent arms of said upper and lower Y junctures, said Y junctures and spaced arcuate sleeves defining an opening, and further including a lung plate secured to the end of a rung and mounted within said opening.

14. In a rope ladder combination, a pair of braided ropes interconnected in spaced parallel relationship by a plurality of rungs, the ends of said rungs being formed with a neck portion of reduced diameter disposed between the braids of a rope, a rope housing formed of elastic material including upper and lower collared ends and having a transverse opening therethrough through which said rung is projected, and a filler plug member made of elastic material and having a generally ellipsoidal shape, said filler plug member being mounted upon the neck portion of said rung and Within said rope housing.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said rung is formed with grooves on either side of said neck portion, and further wherein said rope housing is provided with a plurality of garter springs, each upper and lower collared end having a garter spring therein for clamping upon a rope, and garter springs being disposed about the transverse opening of said rope housing engageable with the grooves of said rung.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 280,065 Morford June 26, 1883 1,349,125 Full Aug. 10, 1920 1,447,613 Brann et al. Mar 6, 1923 1,450,207 Gaken Apr. 3, 1923 1,486,289 Green Mar. 11, 1924 1,907,012 Smith May 2, 1933 3,008,537 Roberts et al Nov. 14, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 217,766 Great Britain June 26, 1924 599,349 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1948 

1. IN A ROPE LADDER ASSEMBLY, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A ROPE HOUSING FORMED OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING AN UPPER INVERTED Y JUNCTURE, A LOWER Y JUNCTURE, AND ARCUATE SLEEVES INTERCONNECTING THE RESPECTIVE DIVERGENT ARMS OF SAID UPPER AND LOWER JUNCTURES, SAID HOUSING DEFINING AN INNER OPENING FOR RECEIVING A RUNG PLATE, AND A RUNG PLATE MATABLE WITHIN SAID INNER OPENING. 